Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley – 2009 / 5yo – 64% abv

Info: The first Octomore distilled from 100% Islay barley. Grown and harvested by James Brown from Lorgba, a field on Octomore farm. A massive 258 PPM.
Colour: Fairly rich golden, autumn tints.
Nose: As ever you have those well known slightly briny deep engine oil tones that Bruichladdich is famous for, smokey barley and sweet citrus and oak notes, a background of marmalade. It becomes lighter and lighter over time with honeyed tones showing.
Palate: Really oily and rich with slightly sweet mossy peat tones. The high ABV does make it quite hot. The mossy tones seem more pronounced in this particular Octomore over previous versions, and I like them!
Finish: It’s fairly hot, nicely warming with a long smoky end that sticks around for ages.
Water: Lightens up the colour a bit, and thins out the nose slightly, leaving smoke and citrus around, stripping out some of the base notes. Still thick on the palate, much more buttery and approachable, but again the base (and mossyness) has been thinned out. The finish is easier, slightly fresh with a lovely floralness in the background, and still very long.
Thoughts: As ever, awesome stuff, and packed with smoke and localness! I like the butter and cream that a drop of water releases.
Available: The Whisky Exchange – £145

Thanks to Bruichladdich for the sample.